Pros:Fast performance; lots of storage space; has USB 2.0, FireWire 400, FireWire 800; includes backup software.
Cons:Provided backup software is powerful but complex.
Bottom Line:A very fast and flexible drive with a full spectrum of interface options. The provided backup software, however, is unnecessarily complex and uses a proprietary format.

ReviewAt 80GB, the SureFIRE800 is the storage heavyweight among the portable drives...
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At 80GB, the SureFIRE800 is the storage heavyweight among the portable drives. Its 10-ounce travel weight also makes it the heaviest of the drives you'd consider for on-the-road use.

Although it's no larger than the CODi drive (and much less expensive), the SureFIRE800 has twice the storage capacity. Its back panel is replete with ports, including USB 2.0, FireWire 400, and FireWire 800 ports. Both of the FireWire sockets are full-size, which may be convenient, but the supplied cables are enormous compared with the USB cable; they don't lend themselves to portability. The unit measures 5.3 by 3.3 by 0.8 inches.

The SureFIRE800 comes with an external power supply, a slender, space-saving "wall wart." The external adapter is required for USB operation, but it's not necessary for FireWire operation when you use the full six-wire (or nine-wire for FireWire 800) cable. Also included is Dantz's Retrospect Express 6.5 backup software. The documentation for Retrospect Express is on the CD and is generic rather than tailored to the SureFIRE800, so you have to wade through some extraneous information about the networked and professional versions.

Although Retrospect Express is highly capable, it can be unnecessarily complicated for simple personal-storage users. The software backs up files to a proprietary format that can't be browsed with normal file utilities and applications. Disaster recovery of a crashed and unbootable system is a multistep process involving burning a CD. Despite the software's wizards and a nicely structured menu system, you actually have to read the Retrospect manual to use the program effectively. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's probably more than most users want to do.

The SureFIRE800 performed well, cranking out 154 megabits per second on our large directory test and 73 Mbps on large video files. It was marginally faster on FireWire 400, and with FireWire 800 leapt up to 200 Mbps on the multimedia test.

Among portable disk-based drives, the Kano SureFIRE800 stands out on a cost-per-gigabyte basis. Its performance, especially with the FireWire 800 connection, makes it a good investment for those who work with large multimedia files. That said, we would prefer a less complex backup software solution.

Bill Machrone is vice president of technology at Ziff Davis Publishing and editorial director of the Interactive Media and Development Group. He joined Ziff Davis in May 1983 as technical editor of PC Magazine, became...

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